Millie Bobby Brown stars as the younger sister of infamous detective Sherlock Holmes – Enola Holmes – in Netflix’s new mystery…
Enola is an extremely intelligent, perceptive and attentive young women. She has been solely educated by her mother Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter), but it is not the education an average young woman in the 1800s would have received. Through Enola’s education, she has learned everything from chess to jujitsu.
However, as Enola wakes up for her sixteenth birthday, she discovers her mother has gone missing – leaving behind only a few birthday presents for her. After the disappearance of her mother, Enola’s two older brothers arrive – Mycroft and Sherlock – to try and find their mother. As Enola goes to meet them at the station, they are surprised to see how much she has grown up as at first, they do not recognise her.
Much to the dismay of Enola, her eldest brother Mycroft is now her legal guardian and it is his wish to send her to finishing school. Enola – being the strong-willed women her mother wanted her to be – she sets out to find her mother through the clues she unveils in her birthday presents left behind.
So, Enola runs away from the life her brother (and society) wants for her. Along the way she meets another runaway Tewkesbury – who is set to be ignited into the House of Lords. The two become great friends, and not only do they both experience great adventures along the way, but Enola defies what was expected of young women like herself of the time.
I don’t know if it is just me, but when watching a British made film, there is always this excitement within me as I always feel I am about to enjoy some classic quirky British humour. In Enola Holmes, this is exactly what you get.
Not only are we granted with a star-studded cast – including Milly Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, Helena Bonham Carter and many more. But the upbeat background music from start to finish gives us that light and airy atmosphere we love from a film to keep us as upbeat when watching it.
Milly Bobby Brown – although she is the main character – is a standout from the cast as through her intuitive charm and charisma, we can clearly see how she is related to the infamous Sherlock. What makes her even better to us as viewers is the way she’s not only our narrator, but how its as if we are in a conversation with her. The eye to eye contact from screen to viewer makes us feel as if we are there with her, it engages us into the film even more.
Not only does Millie stand out as Enola, but Henry Cavil playing older brother Sherlock is a favourite. The relationship and dynamic between Enola and Sherlock are something that makes the film even better viewing. Whether that’s the acting dynamic between Millie and Cavill, or how Sherlock cares more for Enola than Mycroft does, it is the connection between the two that makes the film even better.
Perhaps the only downfalls to this film (and there are a few) is the slightly more violent scenes – such as when Enola is being attacked by Linthorn – which take away that light and airy atmosphere that we as viewers could enjoy from the beginning. For some reason – although they are relevant to the plot – these scenes feel out of place in some circumstances of the plot.
Ultimately, Enola Holmes is a must watch for some lockdown viewing, especially if you are an admirer of the quirky British humour.
By Katie Green
Feature image: Digital Spy